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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Help! No childcare...

249 replies

Nochildcare · 15/01/2025 19:52

First time posting!

I really need some suggestions with what people do for childcare over the school holidays.

Half my childcare plans for the school holidays has fell through. There's no after school service and I work 8-6 three days a week.

I'm at a loss I don't know what to do for childcare. My dm will take my dc half the school holidays. My holidays only cover 3 weeks and I've already used them for school holidays.

I can't go term time in work or work from home. Holiday clubs are £££ a week! And pay childcare for younger dc so I can't afford it.

Anyone have suggestions?

Tia x

OP posts:
Tubetrain · 15/01/2025 19:53

You pay for holiday clubs, or share childcare with a friend

LameBorzoi · 15/01/2025 19:54

Pay for holiday clubs

Tubetrain · 15/01/2025 19:54

What about their dad?

Pointpoint · 15/01/2025 19:54

We have to use clubs, ours aren’t too expensive (£25 per child per day) and we pay into the childcare account to get the tax free benefit and make the money stretch a bit more.

JimHalpertsWife · 15/01/2025 19:54

Does their dad live with you?

If you claim UC anyways then the cost of the childcare can be logged and it will probably increase your benefits.

User457788 · 15/01/2025 19:55

Work from home with kids around
Holiday clubs
Share with other parents
Take annual leave
Take unpaid parental leave (legally entitled)
Ask other relatives
Flexible hours at work.

TomatoSandwiches · 15/01/2025 19:55

How old are the children and what were your previous plans?

Devilsmommy · 15/01/2025 19:55

Childminder?

LivingLaVidaBabyShower · 15/01/2025 19:56

You can take up to 4 weeks unpaid parental leave per year
its 1 week per year per child up to 18 I believe

https://www.gov.uk/parental-leave

id be looking a CMs though

Shinyandnew1 · 15/01/2025 19:56

Holiday clubs are £££ a week!

Yep-that's what most people have to pay-it's better than not having a job.

What were the plans you had that half of them have fallen through?

Guavafish1 · 15/01/2025 19:56

How old are your kids?

JaneBoleynViscountessRochford · 15/01/2025 19:58

Unpaid parental leave or holiday clubs. Do your council run any? Ours run them for £50 a week. There are loads of others run by various other organisations that are a lot more expensive but still plenty of choice, I don’t need to use them but my DC enjoy them so still go to one or two over the holidays. Or you could try find a childminder?

Original poster
Nochildcare · 15/01/2025 19:58

Yes their dad lives with us. The clubs avaliable are really expensive. Yes we could claim back on uc but only up to 85% and most of them finish around school pick up time here.

Other grandparent was going to take dc but can't as they've fallen very ill and in hospital.

OP posts:
Original poster
Nochildcare · 15/01/2025 19:59

Dc are soon to be 4 and 9.

OP posts:
JimHalpertsWife · 15/01/2025 19:59

How many weeks is dh taking off in the summer?

TomatoSandwiches · 15/01/2025 19:59

Can't their father use his holiday time for some of it?
Split unpaid parental leave?
Sorry to hear about your family memeber.

User457788 · 15/01/2025 20:01

Nochildcare · 15/01/2025 19:58

Yes their dad lives with us. The clubs avaliable are really expensive. Yes we could claim back on uc but only up to 85% and most of them finish around school pick up time here.

Other grandparent was going to take dc but can't as they've fallen very ill and in hospital.

At least you can claim stuff back, most parents don't get that chance not being on UC. Can you work from home or DH? He needs to step up , you need to work as a team.

Tohaveandtohold · 15/01/2025 20:01

Their other parent needs to use holiday as well. He only needs to take 3 days a week off as that’s when you work. They have 2 parents.
Then you’ll have a few days left to pay for holiday clubs

Youcancallmeirrelevant · 15/01/2025 20:02

You split the holidays with your partner and you pay for holiday clubs. You can use tax free childcare for most of them so that's 20% off and you have to hunt to find the ones that are the longer hours. Or you need to speak to work to see if they'll allow you to amend your hours maybe work and extra day but shorter days to fit in with holiday clubs.

Tubetrain · 15/01/2025 20:03

Nochildcare · 15/01/2025 19:58

Yes their dad lives with us. The clubs avaliable are really expensive. Yes we could claim back on uc but only up to 85% and most of them finish around school pick up time here.

Other grandparent was going to take dc but can't as they've fallen very ill and in hospital.

So you're only paying 15% of the club cost and you're still complaining about it?!

Original poster
Nochildcare · 15/01/2025 20:03

We have taken 2 weeks at Easter off as we're going on holiday to see dhs side of the family as they live far away and don't get to see the dc often.

Dh has taken one week off over summer as is self employed

OP posts:
Original poster
Nochildcare · 15/01/2025 20:05

Tubetrain · 15/01/2025 20:03

So you're only paying 15% of the club cost and you're still complaining about it?!

Show quote history

Up to...we would maybe get 15% back I know it's better than nothing but would still be struggling

OP posts:
TappyGilmore · 15/01/2025 20:05

I don’t really get this TBH. Yes childcare in the holidays can be expensive, but you budget for it because it is a cost of going to work, just the same as something like your transportation to work.

Overthebow · 15/01/2025 20:05

Surely their dad will use his annual leave for the holidays too? That will take a chunk of it. Then it will have to be holiday clubs and/or do childcare swaps with friends. That’s what we’re planning on doing for lots of it. You can pay for clubs using tax free childcare and pay into the account year round to build up money for them.

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 15/01/2025 20:07

You don’t book your time off together and pay for holidays in that time and then say you can’t afford holiday club.

If you can’t afford holiday clubs you take time off separately to your husband.

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